Rationale
There should be a firm evidence
base for all medication. National licence conditions govern the
indications, dosage and contra-indications for each available
medication. Service care providers should have agreed and published
algorithms which provide guidance on first, second and possibly
third-line medication, dosage, length of treatment, review
requirements, action to be taken over side-effects, and assessment
of the effectiveness of medication.
Examples of evidence required to meet standard
18:
- Local algorithms
- Evidence that reasons for when to initiate, change, maintain or
end medication are recorded